Home Invasion leads to arrest of Townsend man

A Townsend man was arrested Nov. 3 after police said he broke into an elderly woman's home and robbed her.

A Townsend man was arrested Nov. 3 after police said he broke into an elderly woman's home and robbed her.

New Castle County Police said that Johnny Redwood, 49, who resides in the 200 block of Eaton Drive, broke into the 81-year-old woman's residence in the Fredrick Lodge Trailer Park around 3:25 a.m. Nov. 3 and demanded cash from her.

Redwood, who also lives in the Fredrick Lodge Trailer Park, entered the home by breaking a window, police said.

He was wearing a mask to conceal his identity.

The woman was woken up by the noise and when she responded to the door, Redwood, who was holding a hammer and a crowbar, confronted her and demanded money, police said.

The victim complied and gave him and undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing from the residence, police said.

Police said that Redwood stole the crowbar from the woman's shed and had tried to pry a side door open using it.

After not being able to pry the door open, he broke the window to the door to gain entry.

When police were en route to the woman's residence, county dispatchers informed them that she had fled to a neighbor's residence.

The victim told officers that she recognized the man as a person who she sees frequently in the Fredrick Lodge Trailer Park.

Police saw Redwood walking in the area upon their arrival and were able to identify him as the suspect.

A canine search led police on a trail from the victim's residence to Redwood's.

Redwood was charged with robbery, possession of a deadly weapon, home invasion with intent to commit a violent felony, and wearing a disguise.

He was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institute after failing to post $42,000 secured bail.